LimestoneBy: Karsen Houck and Molly Minich
General Information:
Limestone is a sedimentary rock that is usually white or white with a yellow or orange tint. It is either a chemical or an organic rock. Its grains are fine and angular. Limestone is composed of mostly the mineral Calcite. The limestone is found on ocean floors. It is usually made up of decomposed calms and coral. It is a uniform rock with fine, angular grains. Some fossils that have been found in limestone is clams, shells, and the vertebrae of other sea animals. Limestone is used for roads, building materials and patio pavement.


Some interesting facts about Limestone:
  • There were two different types of limestone used to build the Great Pyramid in Egypt

  • Bedford, Indiana was once said to be the limestone capital of the world
  • Marble forms from limestone most of the time. Limestone can recrystallize into marble
  • Fine limestone is used for making weather and heat resistant roofing
  • Limestone is used to neutralize acidic soil on farms
  • Pulverized limestone is sprayed on the walls of mines to reduce chance of explosion and to make mines look brighter
  • Portland cement is made out of limestone
  • The world's largest limestone quarry is in Rogers City, Michigan
  • Crushed limestone is used as a filter in waste water treatment plants
  • Powered limestone is used in the making paper, paint, rubber, and plastics
  • Powered limestone is used to absorb pollutants in coal power plants.
  • Kingston, Ontario, Canada is called "Limestone City" because so many of its buildings are made of limestone.
  • Geological formations made of limestone are the best petroleum reservoirs.
  • Limestone is used in toothpaste.
  • Limestone is added to bread and cereal as a source of calcium.
  • Limestone is used to extract iron from iron ore.
  • It is used in medicine and cosmetics.
  • Limestone is involved in the formation of stalactite.
  • Limestone quarries in Northwestern Europe can extend for over 100 kilometers.
  • Crushed limestone is Iowa's leading mineral commodity.
  • 38 million tons with a value of 186 million dollars.
  • Limestone is partially soluble, so it can create several different landscapes by erosion.


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Sites
http://www.aanda.org/index.php?option=com_article&access=standard&Itemid=129&url=/articles/aa/abs/2003/42/aah4286/aah4286.html

people.ku.edu/~stalder/KS-limestone.html

www.es.ucl.ac.uk/schools/UCL/limestone.htm

www.buzzle.com/articles/limestone-rocks-facts.html

http://quarryclimbers.com/fun-facts/index.html

geology.com/rocks/limestone.shtml

www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/limestone

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/stalactite

www.igsb.uiowa.edu/browse/minersrc.htm